Mark Bury - a big heart
Central Coast Cyclones Veterans Cricket | May 01, 2024
Mark Bury has played a significant and pivotal role in the success and growth of Veterans cricket on the Central Coast.
Hs tireless efforts and passion for the game has always been a shining light for those who know him.
A man with a big heart, let’s find out more about his journey in the game
What year you were born?
1963
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was 8 and went ordinary but I really enjoyed it at Lake Park Narrabeen
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Collaroy Plateau Juniors and Seniors Under 10-1st Grade, Marist North Shore First XI MCC Cricket, Cromer High first XI Davidson Shield Cricket, Manly Warringah Grade Cricket Club and Junior Reps, North Sydney Grade Cricket Club, Kincumber Avoca Cricket Club Central Coast, Seaview Hawks MWDCA 1st Grade, Harbord Bowling Club, Manly Warringah Martin Shield, Central Coast Veterans Cricket, Mandalong Lawyers, NSW Over 50s Veterans Blues and Waratahs
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut
14 for Collaroy Plateau 1st Grade batted ok
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
Fast Medium Swing and Seam Bowler and Batsman, who can hang around in a crisis,
What were your strengths as a player?
Strong, could bowl into the wind all day, My Outswinger, Lift off a good length, My height, Determined and wanted to bowl all day, Bit of fighter with the bat in saving games
What was your highest score in senior Cricket?
103 for Collaroy Plateau at Vic Huxley Oval Collaroy Plateau
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
6-14 V Western Suburbs for Manly at Grahams Reserve Manly
7-31 v Harbord for Seaview Hawks at Nolans 1 North Manly
7-31 v Doyalson for Kincumber Avoca at Erina Oval Erina
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Stuart Wragg- quickest left hander I seen with a deadly bouncer. I’m sure if he would have played Grade Cricket for Manly he would of done well, he took over 1000 wickets in MWDCA Competition against a number of ex 1st Grade Batsman, he was not fun to face.
Don Nash- Opened the Batting in a Corporate Game at SCG against him, very swift.
David Rosa – As quick as anyone in Sydney Grade Cricket on his day. He went from Manly Warringah 1st Grade Competition to Sydney Grade Cricket 1st Grade very quickly
Very Honourable Mentions to Russell Pierce, David Farrell, Gavin Fletcher, Mark Petersen, Harold Guihot , John Short and Billy Blair
Don Nash
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Tommy Spencer Manly - his height and his deadly dart, just a great bowler. Great Captain too and a great mentor for many young Manly Players in the 70s and 80’s
Greg Briggs – Probably one of the most intelligent bowlers I’ve played against and with, as soon as you lose concentration he always gets you
Ken Hall- Great Bowler, still going great into his late 60s and a guy I just love playing with, he always brings the best out of you as a player
Honourable Mentions Mick Pawley, Gary Bugden, Jeff Maher
Who are the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
Michael Slater
Stephen Waugh
Peter Solway
Honourable Mentions Adrian Dale, Greg “Chester” Pierce, Steve “Big Red” Colby and Dean Werner
Peter Solway back in his playing days with the Canberra Comets
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Peter Solway 161 v Sri Lanka in 2018 Over 50s World Cup at Old Kings, They had a very good bowling attack on a wicket doing a little bit, he made it look easy and effortless
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Stuart Wragg Bouncer, deadly especially before Helmets.
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
When I was 14 playing my 1st Game in 1st Grade for Collaroy Plateau I realised i had to work hard to get fitter, stronger and more agile to be competitive. My dad who wasn’t a cricketer, I came from a Rugby League Family on both sides, did a hell of a lot of sprint work with me which got me really fit and much quicker and stronger
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against
I can’t split, Ken McDermott – North Sydney and Collaroy Plateau, Mal Elliot Manly Warringah and Kincumber Avoca, Fabien Heaton Randwick, Peter Coombes St George and Todd O’Keefe Cambelltown
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Darren Smith (Australian Over 50s Team)
Ken Hall (Sydney Grade Cricket)
Ken Hall
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Can’t Split Tommy Spencer Manly Warringah just always got the best out of me and Greg Briggs just well organised and gets the best out of you
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Cant Split Brad “The Snake Cameron”, Rod the Black Bradman Masters” and Michael “Mr C” Withers and Wayne Ashworth
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
Getting 4 quick wickets LBW one day at Erina Oval for Kincumber Avoca. We had a female umpire and the Black Bradman was accusing me of chatting her up between balls, then he said bowl a boner, we had 11 players all on the ground laughing and the batsman were not far behind
What was your most embarrassing dismissal in senior cricket?
Too numerous to mention
Who was your childhood hero?
Jeff Thompson
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Greg Chappell, as I played a bit of cricket with Trevor Chappell and got to know Ian a bit as he played baseball with all my mates at the Godfathers and I see him at some social occasions with the boys, you could not meet two more different people but both great guys so I’m interested to see what Greg’s personality is like
Wasim Akram – Just a great cricketer and great mentor for fast bowlers to listen too
Imran Khan – Just a great cricketer and leader off and on the field
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Ian Chappell as he always says what I think, Richie and Tony are not far behind
What was your favourite ground to play at?
North Sydney No 1 and Manly Oval
Was there a particular team you especially looked forward to playing against?
Mosman, because I always got wickets and we always had good laughs between us
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Two I can’t split. Playing for the Shane Lee Green and Gold’s v Michael Slater Red White and Blues in a corporate game at the SCG and being one of the Selectors for the Australian Over 50s Team that won the World Cup Final in Sydney in 2018 undefeated
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
A 110 Over each semi-final over two days at Doyalson for Kincumber Avoca v Matcham Holgate. Many ex 1st Graders from Sydney and Central Coast Representative players on both sides – the games went the distance and we won in the last over.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
Brad ‘The Snake “Cameron, Jason “Stiffy “Brown, Rod “The “Black Bradman” Masters
You’re now playing over 50s cricket, what the best part of playing veterans cricket and what advice would you offer anyone over 50 who is thinking about playing again?
Do it because it’s a reason to keep fit and keep the body going. It has really helped me recover from an emergency triple bypass 10 years ago and some other major health problems and it’s been good for my mental health most of the time (Being a selector is stressful).
The social side of it has been tremendous, the tours I’ve been all over Australia and the world have been tremendous experiences. Seeing old friends, the jokes, the camaraderie, putting on the NSW Vets Gear and playing for NSW Over 50s.
Being an Administrator for NSW Veterans Cricket Over 50s and running the Central Coast Over 50s (while it was hard work at first) to see how much its grown since I started it is very satisfying and to now have great people involved administering both associations is just great.
What are your hobbies?
I’ve been a Guitarist and Bass Player and Singer in Bands for 40 years and have done a few albums in my latest Band Kinalung and do the occasional solo gig for cricket dinners.
I played Rugby League for 15 years and coached for 10 years and played Golden Oldies Rugby Union for the Avoca Beach White Pointers for a couple of years. I enjoyed touch football for 30 years.
I’m still a keen Kneeboard Surfer, Bike Rider and enjoy working out at Kincumber Gym. I was heavily involved though my kids with Little Athletics, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Touch Football, as a coach, trainer, First Aid Officer, Manager and Administrator
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
I tend to reference Cricket legend Keith Millers ” if you think you have pressure on you wait till you have a Messerschmitt Bf 109 flying up your arse” saying as it helps me keep calm in stressful situations. It works most of the time, but I’m not perfect.
What is your occupation?
I’m a self employed AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist for Mark Bury Consulting, I do tree assessment and tree impact reports for Development Applications, Tree Removal and Pruning Applications, School tree Inspections etc
Are you still involved in cricket and if so, in what capacity?
I’m still helping NSW Over 50s with organising the National Titles in Adelaide in November and I help out a mate Peter Coombes who coaches privately and do some mentoring. I occasionally help Central Coast Cricket with selecting and coaching representative tams as I have completed my Level 2 course.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
For cricket in the state to remain strong I think we need more qualified coaches who are paid well to coach and mentor local club coaches so there is a greater interest in the development of coaches.
There are a lot of guys like myself who have coached for over 40 years and have the experience and coaching skills to help younger coaches.
Coaching, helping players improve and maintaining a player’s enthusiasm for the game is not easy and there’s so many of us that could add
The continued development of training and playing facilities, indoor and outdoor is a must and I think each grade club in Sydney should be linked to a regional association in the Country. The Sydney Clubs should be supported financially so talented players in the country regions can have a better pathway to play grade cricket in Sydney.
Basically I think there should be more money made available to grass roots cricket as all we are doing is cashing in on the goodwill of all the volunteers in grassroots communities and wearing everyone out. If the game is to evolve professionally then it needs to be treated as such from the ground level up which includes umpires and ground staff.
If funds were available to help people administrate the game at grassroots in communities the game would be a lot healthier especially in regional communities. So much of the revenue needed for playing contracts and executive staff comes from the grassroot cricket fan and communities. There needs to be greater balance for cricket to remain strong across the state
